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Spain and Ireland urged the European Union, on Wednesday, to promptly assess whether Israel is fulfilling its human rights obligations in Gaza under an agreement that associates rights with trade relations.
Spain and Ireland on Wednesday asked the European Union to "urgently" examine whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations in Gaza under an accord linking rights to trade ties.
The move reflects growing European frustration over the spiraling humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, for the first time evoking the prospect of economic sanctions, albeit obliquely.
In a letter, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar asked the European Commission to act urgently. Israel is poised to launch a full-scale ground operation into the southern city of Rafah where more than 1.4 million Palestinians are trapped.
"Given the critical situation in Rafah, Ireland and Spain have just requested the European Commission urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza," Sánchez wrote on X.
Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers have been at war for four months, and the threat of a Rafah ground operation has triggered global alarm over the potential for mass civilian casualties.
In their letter, the two leaders demanded "an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship."
The association agreement is the main basis for the bloc's trade ties with Israel. Signed in 1995, it came into force in 2000.
"If it considers that (Israel) is in breach," the Commission should propose "appropriate measures," the letter said.
The European Commission confirmed receiving the letter, but its foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali was not immediately able to say how it would review the human rights element of the agreement.
Sánchez's stance on the Gaza war has soured Spain's relations with Israel, which in November recalled its ambassador after he expressed doubts about the legality of its actions in Gaza.
Although she returned in January, ties remain strained.
Hailing the letter as "very brave," Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares said Sánchez was "the leader who has gone furthest in defense of human rights, international humanitarian law and, above all, of Palestinian civilians."
Albares also said "no licence to export weapons to Israel has been approved" by Spain since October 7, and none would be as long as the conflict continued.
Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, whose radical left-wing Sumar is part of Sánchez's coalition, has taken a much harder line.
Díaz said she was planning to travel to the Palestinian territories to meet her counterpart, without giving a date, and added she would use the opportunity to "denounce the brutality happening there and call for a ceasefire."
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
Spain and Ireland on Wednesday asked the European Union to "urgently" examine whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations in Gaza under an accord linking rights to trade ties.
The move reflects growing European frustration over the spiraling humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, for the first time evoking the prospect of economic sanctions, albeit obliquely.
In a letter, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar asked the European Commission to act urgently. Israel is poised to launch a full-scale ground operation into the southern city of Rafah where more than 1.4 million Palestinians are trapped.
"Given the critical situation in Rafah, Ireland and Spain have just requested the European Commission urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza," Sánchez wrote on X.
Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers have been at war for four months, and the threat of a Rafah ground operation has triggered global alarm over the potential for mass civilian casualties.
In their letter, the two leaders demanded "an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship."
The association agreement is the main basis for the bloc's trade ties with Israel. Signed in 1995, it came into force in 2000.
"If it considers that (Israel) is in breach," the Commission should propose "appropriate measures," the letter said.
'Very Brave Letter'
The European Commission confirmed receiving the letter, but its foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali was not immediately able to say how it would review the human rights element of the agreement.
Sánchez's stance on the Gaza war has soured Spain's relations with Israel, which in November recalled its ambassador after he expressed doubts about the legality of its actions in Gaza.
Although she returned in January, ties remain strained.
Hailing the letter as "very brave," Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares said Sánchez was "the leader who has gone furthest in defense of human rights, international humanitarian law and, above all, of Palestinian civilians."
'Spain Can Do More'
Albares also said "no licence to export weapons to Israel has been approved" by Spain since October 7, and none would be as long as the conflict continued.
Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, whose radical left-wing Sumar is part of Sánchez's coalition, has taken a much harder line.
Díaz said she was planning to travel to the Palestinian territories to meet her counterpart, without giving a date, and added she would use the opportunity to "denounce the brutality happening there and call for a ceasefire."
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
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